Review: Press 1 For 1nvasion by J. A. Dauber

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Matt knew he should have turned in the cell phone when he found it on the ground. But he really wanted to see what using one would be like. And since his parents wouldn’t let him have one yet, he figured what could be the harm keeping it for just a bit. Turns out, finding the cell phone was the first step he took on the path to possibly thwarting an alien invasion of Earth.

Press 1 for 1nvasion by J.A. Dauber is the enchanting middle-grade story of how Matt goes from being a normal kid with normal concerns to potential civilization-saver. And it all starts with the cell phone. Which, it turns out, was left for him to find by one of the aliens, his lunch lady Mrs. MacGillicuddy. When Matt looks through the camera, he can see any alien as they really look instead of the disguise they wear to appear human. This lets him start a conversation with the lunch lady.

Mrs. MacGillicuddy has had a change of heart about conquering Earth with her species, and she believes Matt can help her convince her fellow aliens to leave it be. But trouble comes in all sorts of places, including from the school crossing guard, Mr. Mackintosh. He also lives on Mrs. MacGillicuddy’s planet, and he has no qualms about wiping out humans. Matt will need all his courage and determination, plus the help of his crush Marcela, to save the day.

Press 1 For 1Invasion weaves a fun and imaginative tale while taking readers on lots of twists and turns until a satisfying ending. It’s premise that humans are tasty and aliens want to eat them reads more like Hansel and Gretel than a horror story, making it a good book to read pre-Halloween, but also any time. I recommend it for ages 9 to 13.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Factotum by D. M. Cornish

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Factotum, book three of the Monster Blood Tattoo series, finds Rossamund Bookchild settling into life with Europe in her home in Brandenbrass. He has a much to worry about, including the accusations that question his origin and what he is, as well as the life of violence killing monsters he has signed up for as Europe’s factotum.

While his life in the household is comfortable, he feels threats all around, and when he once again comes to the aid of the powerless, he is targeted by a powerful nemesis intent on destroying those he loves.

While I ultimately enjoyed this installment of Rossamund’s story, I found it a bit slow to start, with a lot of what was to come being set up in the first couple of hundred pages, but not much action in that time. Also, the use of terms specific to the created world sometimes strung together in ways that made it difficult to follow. I would have preferred simpler language throughout.

That said, once action picked up I enjoyed the story and felt that the trilogy came to a satisfying closure for Rossamund, or it raises the possibility for his tale to continue in another direction. Either way, I think the fantasy series takes readers on a fun ride through an imaginative world, while having them ponder the question of what makes a monster.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Dedushka by Katerina Spaeth

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Dedushka: Memories of My Grandpa and Ukraine by Katerina Spaeth, is a picture book that tells of a child who grows up being looked after by her loving grandpa. Dedushka is retired when she enters the world, and he dedicates his time to her.

Together, the two stroll through Kharkiv with him explaining things they see together and answering all her “whys.” Through their activities, young readers learn about life in Ukraine, where people waited in lines to buy necessities. One of those was sugar, which they would buy in a large sack once per year.

Other activities the two do together are gardening, preserving what they grow, dying Easter eggs, and fixing things around the house. Through it all, Dedushka’s patience in teaching his granddaughter comes through. And when he becomes older and needs help, their roles reverse.

The references to Ukrainian culture shine the light on a part of the world that often experiences conflict, helping children learn about the history there. Featured at the back of the book is a recipe for kulich, which the author describes as tall, sweet, bread towers. There’s also instructions for how to dye Easter eggs with onion peels. The book finishes with the author’s story about her roots and photos of her grandparents.

Dedushka a sweet story about a child’s love for her grandpa and his love for her that anyone should be able to relate to. I imagine it having a beloved space on the bookshelf where it can be taken down and read over and over again.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Josefina Guerrero, known more commonly as Joey, was a daring spy and guerilla fighter in the Philippines during World War II. After the war she was decorated with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm. She worked tirelessly to make sure people were fed and taken care of despite widespread shortages of food and housing. But she also carried a secret: she had leprosy (now known as Hansen’s Disease), and by law at the time she was supposed to report to authorities and live apart from society.

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought For Freedom by Erin Entrada Kelly tells the incredible story of Joey’s faith and determination that helped her to not only succeed but also to thrive against the odds. Not many people know about her life, but in her time Joey was lauded by presidents, Congressmen, and others inspired by her courage.

Every time Joey faced a difficult situation, like when she had to live at a leprosarium near her home where people were malnourished and forced to live in unsanitary conditions, she acted to rally others to the cause and improve her surroundings. She eventually was allowed to immigrate to the U.S. for treatment at the foremost facility at the time, The National Hansen’s Disease Center at Carville, Louisiana.

While there she received treatment until her disease was in remission, and she could live freely again. After that, she lived a quiet life, keeping her previous life hidden from new friends.

Kelly’s biography introduces Guerrero to middle grade and young adults in an accessible way, adding interesting details about World War II in the Philippines and Hansen’s Disease. I learned a lot about both, even though I am familiar with the facility in Carville because I have visited a few times. Guerrero’s story is truly inspiring, and i recommend it for readers aged 10 to 16.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Lamplighter by D. M. Cornish

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When we last left Rossamund Bookchild in book one of the Monster Blood Tattoo series, he had finally arrived at his destination to train to be a lamplighter. In book two, Lamplighter, he continues his adventures while learning what is to be his trade, lighting lamps along the Empire’s roadways.

Rossamund settles into the routine well enough, but from the start there is trouble when a group of monsters set upon travelers on the road and apprentice lamplighters get caught in the battle. Rossamund performs valiantly, and it’s there that he meets Threnody, a girl who wants to become the first female lamplighter.

As Rossamund goes about his daily life, he feels that something is amiss at Winstermill, where the apprentices live and train. He meets new friends, becomes reacquainted with old ones in Sebastipole and Europe, and makes enemies among those he suspects of dastardly deeds.

His adventures take him to his first assignment, which he shares with Threnody. The two get along well at their new home, until a crisis finds the two of them in an unexpected bind.

Second books in series sometimes fall short, but I found Lamplighter picked up the pace from Foundling and built upon Rossamund’s backstory while continuing with twists and turns to his adventure. While I wish that some of the terminology for the world in this series was less complicated (I often found myself skipping over some of the descriptions to focus on the story) I can’t wait to see what adventures Rossamund gets up to in the third book.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Forever Friends Farm

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Forever Friends Farm is a cute picture book and early reader series that emphasizes friendship and ways to communicate to help everyone get along together. The first book, Forever Kind, is a picture book written by Annie Auerbach and illustrated by Luke Flowers. It introduces the regulars P.J., Winston, Mei, Cassie, and more when they are planning a party because P.J. finished reading an entire book all by himself.

P. J. meets Jasper and invites him to the party. But Jasper isn’t used to a welcoming crowd, and he takes more than his share of the goodies. When he messes up the whole party, he expects to be sent on his way. Instead, everyone else forgives him and enlists him in the clean-up.

Another title in the series, A Perfect Place to Play, an early reader written by Tish Rabe and illustrated by Jim Valerie, has P.J. the Goose and Winston the Mouse finding what they think is a perfect place to play. Then they discover a group of friendly squirrels have already taken residence there. Pretty soon the two groups are getting together and then sharing space in the barn to take shelter from a storm.

The Forever Friends Farm series is great for helping to grow readers, as there are four levels of stories appropriate for different age groups. Levels one and two are for readers aged 4-6. Level three is appropriate for ages 6-8. And level four targets ages 7 and up. Young readers can stay connected to familiar characters as they grow and become more proficient.

The characters are cute, and the story lines get a message across without being overly preachy.

Paw Prints Publishing provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Foundling by D. M. Cornish

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The only home Rossamund has ever known is Madam Opera’s Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls. Found on the doorstep with the word assumed to be his name pinned to his blanket, he has suffered torment at the hands of some of the other children and found joy with the adults who have cared for and guided him. But now he is off on an adventure, tapped for the job of Lamplighter in a faraway land. Along the way, however, he gets waylaid, and there starts a grand adventure that begins his new life.

Rossamund’s origin story is part of the Monster Blood Tattoo series, Book One: Foundling, by D. M. Cornish. Cornish vividly creates a fantasy world where monsters lurk, ready to set upon regular folk who aren’t careful. There are also people who dedicate their lives to fighting the monsters, either for pay or self-preservation.

After growing up hearing of these adventures but being safely secluded within the walls of Madam Opera’s, Rossamund is finding out for himself how things really are. And he’s not always sure the stories he was raised on are his best guides for figuring things out.

There are hints that Rossamund is more than an ordinary orphan, and aside from a rather silly mistake he makes at the beginning that had me concerned I may not like him as a protagonist, I really got into the story and the fantasy world that Cornish creates. Each chapter starts with a definition of a type of character and how it fits into the world, and that was enough for me to read the story through. But for anyone who wants to get into the details, there’s an extensive glossary of terms called an Explicarium at the back.

Young fans of J. R. R. Tolkein will undoubtedly find a lot to love in both the story and the fantasy world in Foundling. Other books in the series include Lamplighter and Factotum. I will review each of these in the coming weeks as well as a companion piece, Tales From the Half Continent.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Lissa Loves Bugs by Tracy Blom

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When Lissa looks through a magnifying glass she found in the attic of her home, she discovers something wondrous: anything she points it at reveals facts and hidden messages. Those messages lead her to the family garden and the woods beyond, where the plants and soil are distressed. With the help of her friends—Wren, Luna, and Indigo—as well as through research in the local library, she has to solve the mystery and save the living things in her own backyard.

Lissa Loves Bugs by Tracy Blom is about a curious nine year old who is good at observing the world around her and investigating when something seems out of whack. She follows clues and suggestions to check out the dirt, ladybugs, lacewings, and more. Together, she and her friends come up with a plan that not only heals the land but also brings neighbors together. It’s empowering for her to know that she and her friends can make a difference if they present facts and offer solutions.

The end teases book two in the series, a space adventure that the magnifying glass points them to. With an easy-to-read format and dreamy illustrations by Cathy Morrison, Lissa Loves Bugs is sure to appeal to readers aged 7 to 10.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

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